Edward Nketiah, First Player Born After Wenger’s Arrival To Save Arsenal

Edward Nketiah, First Player Born After Wenger’s Arrival To Save Arsenal

Once in a while does a youngster enjoy such a memorable night as Edward Nketiah did last night. The youngstarlet was called upon by Wenger in the 85th minute of the Carabao Cup fourth-round clash with Norwich as the Gunners were trailing 1-0 at the Emirates.

The youngster got his final instructions from Wenger and entered the pitch in the 85th minute. after 14 seconds, he tapped in a Coquelin flick-on to take the game to additional time.

After 11 minutes, the 18-year-old hooked onto a cross from Elneny to snatch his second of the night and put the trailing Gunners ahead.

Eddie Nketiah had a remarkable impact in the EFL Cup, becoming the first player born after Arsene Wenger was appointed Arsenal boss to score for the club.

Nketiah was born in May 1999, just about three years after Wenger was named Arsenal boss, with the Frenchman having led the North London club to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

“I know he has character and is not afraid,”Wenger told a news conference.

“He smells the combination movements, he can give and go and once a player has that in his game, they have always a chance.

“The guys who can understand that if they give the ball somewhere and they can get it back and know where to get it back, the quality of reception is a very important quality.

“I would say the quality of the reception, he has that.”

Wenger admitted he probably would not have introduced Nketiah if he had more senior options on the bench.

The Frenchman said his change was purely to make Arsenal more dangerous, with Nketiah finding the winner in the 96th minute.